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X Set Down ^'by the Sea. N. 



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A BEAUTIFUL CITY, SET DOWN 
BY THE SEA, 










Copyrighted 18S0, by Mrs. A. Elmore. W "^ " ' 



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Ainzi Piei'son & Co.. 188 Uarks^gt, Newark. 



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TO THOSE WHO HAVE BY INFINITE PATIENCE 

CREATED THIS LOVELY SUMMER-TIME CITY, WHERE ONCE THERE WAS BUT A BARREN 

STRIP OF WHITE SAND, 

THIS POEM IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, 

BY THE AUTHORESS. 
Manhattan Beach Hotel, June^ iSSo. 



t$tmm^iti4^t$muhiik4ta. 



I. 

he waves are lauo-hing in summer-time glee, 
Sunbeams are falling about her so free; 
And pure is the breeze that seeketh this lea, 
Where reigneth a city as fair as can be, 
A beautiful city, set down bv the sea. 



^. city with fountains, flowers, and song, 

And murmur of waters all the day long; 
Where weary ones come, and ever grow strong, 
Where gladness supreme pervadeth the throng; 
A beautiful city, set down by the sea. 



III. 



rom pinnacled roof, so graceful and fair, 
Banners so many, are fanning the air; 



"e, 



And flag of the land all people may share 
Guardeth this city in summer-time fair; 

This beautiful citv, set down by the sea, 



^|ay pleasuring groups from every land 

Are strolling about on the silv'ry sand. 

And "Babel" of tongues is heard on the strand 

Where reigneth this city in summer-tmie grand ; 

This beautiful citv, set down bv the sea. 



%,hc home-coming sailor raiscth a cheer, 

As the good ship draws her harbor anear. 

Outgoing-he left but the winter-time drear ; 

Incoming— behold, a city is here— 

A beautiful city, set down by the sea. 



VI. 

^yhe mermaids that once basked here in the hght, 

And monsters that claimed the island so white, 
Fled far to the mam in ceaseless affright, 
When the city came down in conqu'ring might; 
The beautiful city, set down by the sea. 



VI 1. 

H|ith ambient llame all gilt in the morn, 

Where orient splendors at night-time adorn, 
The shade of the woodlands thou laughest to scorn 
For pleasure, and sunlight, alone— thou wert born, 
O beautiful city, set down by the sea. 



Vlll. 



^o orient scene, fresh kissed by the sun, 

Near foreign land l^ay where silver-rifts run, 
No city by conqu'ring hero begun. 
Rivals in beauty this magic-made one ; 

This beautiful city, set down by the sea. 



IX. 

ot far, her hov'ring wings are outspread, 
Not here is echo of bartering tread ; 
Nor here cometh e'er the pestilence dread. 
Dethroned is all care, and far from thee fled, 
O beautiful city, set down hv the sea. 



X. 



"A far 'neath the sky, blue-vaulted and clear, 

The sailor's hearty "Yo-ho" seemeth near. 
And throb of busier city we hear. 
Like far distant chimes that echo anear 

This beautiful city, set down by the sea. 



XI. 



Phen reigneth the moon in azure array, 
And purple of twilight is fading away. 
And lovers, enchanted, alingering stray, 
Thou makest the scene e'en fairer than day, 
O beautiful city, set down by the sea. 



XIT. 



hen Cupid is near with quiver and bow, 
Nor misses a chance an arrow to throw, 
And kindle a flame ; forever— to grow 
Or die— as thou dost, when falleth the snow, 
O beautiful citv, set down by the sea. 



XIII. 



;he hem of the tide, with fringing of spray, 
Is traihng the shore, in coquettish way, 
And ever the sands will shift with the sway 
And creeping of waves, that near to thee play, 
O beautiful city, set down by the sea. 



X.1V. 

Mwc of the sea o'er the spirit holds sway, 

Through ages so far the whisper doth stray, 
''Hither thou comest, and here thou shalt stay" 
The mandate— thy guardian even to-day, 
O beautiful citv, set down by the sea. 



XV. 



jath it hurled some ship to fathomless grave? 
And given to death the sailors so brave? 
This swell of the sea, this incomincr wave. 
That proudly draws near, th}^ borders to lave, 
O beautiful citv, set down b\' the sea. 



XVI. 



^ view of a city, ''set on an hill," 

Awaketh a sono- in happiest trill, 
And the wand'rer knoweth a joyous thrill 
But thou, makest joy flow swift as a rill, 
O beautiful city, set down by the sea. 



XVIT. 



%l[|cean and spirit hold rhythmical rune; 

From temple of music floats harmonic tune 
It seemeth a dream, these fair days of June, 
That wane, like thy glory, ever too soon, 

O beautiful city, set down by the sea. 



XVIII. 



J hen the day goes out through golden gilt bars, 
And Venus appears, and flame-tinted Mars, 
And the blue is gemmed with glimmer of stars, 
Thou seemest at sea with silver-tipped spars, 
O beautiful city, set down bv the sea. 



Jfl- 



XXI. 



Vom groves of the South, and plains of the West, 
O who will return for pleasure, and rest; 
And who will have found still kindlier breast, 
And who give greeting to incoming guest ? 
O beautiful citv, set down hv the sea. 



H 129 79 *^ 



XIX. 

hen the winter-time storms beat on the shore, 
And laugh of the waves is drowned in the roar, 
And feet are turned homeward, their wand'rinofs o'er, 
We'll mourn the city that bideth no more. 
The beautiful city, set down by the sea. 



XX. 

jUt the Spring her tune of coming will keep, 
And the true fairy wand of June will sweep 
Over the isle, and in answer will leap 
The city in beauty, from winter-time sleep ; 
The beautiful city, set down by the sea. 



